How to Read a Forklift Data Plate — A Field Guide

Where to find the data plate

The data plate is a small metal or plastic nameplate riveted to the forklift. Common locations:

• On the dashboard near the operator's knees (most common on Toyota, Hyster, Yale).

• On the mast base, just above where the forks retract (Crown, Raymond).

• Inside the battery compartment itself, on the compartment wall (some older trucks).

• On the overhead guard structure near the operator's head (rare).

Standard fields and what they mean

Manufacturer — the OEM (Toyota, Crown, Hyster, etc.).

Model — the specific model number. The exact format varies by OEM; Toyota uses codes like "8FBE25u" while Crown uses "RR5730-35".

Serial number — a unique identifier. Even if other fields are missing or damaged, the serial is enough for us to look up the truck's specs.

Rated capacity — maximum load the truck can lift at a specific load center (usually 24 inches). This is reduced when a lighter-than-spec battery is installed.

Battery voltage — always match this exactly. 24V, 36V, 48V, and 80V are the most common values.

Battery weight min/max — the counterbalance window. Install a battery within this range.

Compartment length × width × height — inside dimensions of the battery box.

Year of manufacture — useful for confirming OEM-era connector conventions, which have drifted over time.

Tips for scanning a data plate

For best results with the F&K scan tool:

• Wipe the plate clean — oil and dust degrade OCR accuracy.

• Shine a flashlight on it — raised-stamp plates photograph better with oblique lighting.

• Hold the phone 8–12 inches away and let autofocus lock.

• Fill the frame — avoid including the surrounding sheet metal.

The scan flow at /scan walks you through these prompts in real time.

If the plate is damaged or missing

On trucks where the original plate has been painted over, rusted out, or rubbed illegible, the following fallbacks work:

• The truck's serial number is stamped into the frame (usually near the mast base) in addition to the plate. We can look up a spec sheet from the serial.

• The existing battery usually has a label with voltage, Ah, and weight. Photograph it.

• Measure the battery compartment interior with a tape measure: length (front-to-back), width (side-to-side), height (floor-to-compartment-lip).

Call us at (763) 250-0609 with whatever fields you have and we'll reconstruct the spec.